Can top label



Sept. 12, 1939 "r. M. GODFREY 2,172,842

CAN TOP LABEL Filed June 16, 1938 Patented I 12, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CAN TOP LABEL f Truman M. Godfrey, Winchester, Mass, assignor A to Lever Brothers Company, a corporation of Maine Application June 16, 1938, Serial No. 214,062 Claims. (Cl. 40-7) This invention relates'to improvements in labels to be attached to containers and particularly to labels for attachment to the ends of cans of the type having detachable can-opening tools 5 thereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a label which'may be detachably connected tothe end of a container by means of a member on the under surface of the label which is disposed, 'at

least in part, beneath a can-opening tool fixed to the end of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide labels for containers of the type having opening tools attached to an end'thereof, such labels being adapted to completely cover and protect the end of the containerand to be retained thereon by engagement of a portion of the label beneath the opening tool. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide labels for cans of the type having opening tools attached to an end thereof, such labels being imperforate and therefore capable of preventing entry of dirt or dust between the label and the end of the can and being retained on the latter 25 by engagement of a portion of the label beneath the tool.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description of typicalforms of the invention, 1

30 Typical forms of labels made in accordance with the present invention consist of fiat sheets of material having shapes corresponding to the shape of the container to which they are to be attachecL'and having on their under surfaces a 35 member which is adapted to be disposed between the end of the container and an opening tool attached to the end of the container. The labels are disposed within the marginal or peripheral flange of a'can which is formed by rolling the edge of theend of the can with the edge of the side wall of the can to provide a hermetic seal. The edge of the preferred form of label closely engages theperipheral flange and thereby prevents entry of ferign material between the end of 45 the can and the label around the edge of the label. This construction prevents dirt or dust or other foreign material from accumulating on the end of the can. Likewise the label allows the cans to be stacked one on another, thereby facili- 50 tating packing and display of the cans for the reason that'it is disposed below the upper edge of the flange encircling the can.

The labels are adapted to be used with any conventional type of can or container which has a 55 peripheral flange and an opening tool detachably a modified form of label; and

connected to the end of the can as by spot welding or by soldering. The labels are provided on their under surface with an attached strip or piece of material which is connected in any de-' sired way such as by means of metallic staples, 5 glue, or punched-out portions so as tileave a loopor stirrup portion through which t e opening tool may be inserted. A portion of the stirrup or loop is disposed beneath the opening tool and since the loop and the label are connected, the 0 label is retained firmly on and covering the end of the container. The label may be readily removed from the container by lifting an edge thereof and moving it along the tool until the .tool is free from engagement with the loop or stirrup portion, after which the label may be lifted directly upwardly from the container.

Labels of the type embodying the present invention may be provided with advertising or ornamental matter and may likewise carry a 0 designation which indicates the presence of the tool beneath the label, particularly since the tool is not visiblethrough the label. If desired, the label may be provided with a transparent window which permits the tool to be seen.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is the top view of a container having a label of the type embodying the invention attached thereto, the label being partly broken away to disclose the disposition of the various cooperating parts;

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of a container having the flange thereof broken away to disclose the relationship between the label and the can-opening tool;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the bottom of a modi fledv form of label;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the bottom of the label disclosed in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bottom of a modi-' fied form of label;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; 5

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of Figure 8 is a perspective view of a still different form of label.

The form of label disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a disc ill of sheet material having diameter such that the label fits closely within the flange H of the container l2. The container I2 is of a known type in which the end or head l3 thereof is connected to the walls of the container by rolling the edges thereof together to form the flange H which projects outwardly beyond the end l3 of'the can. Attached to the end l3 of the can is an opening tool l4 having a flattended portion l5 thereon which is connected as by spot welding .or soldering to the end of the can, and which may be readily broken to allow the tool ll to be detached from the container. The label I0 is provided with a strap or strip |6 of material such as cardboard, textile fabric, or other similar flexible material which is attached as by means of staples l1 and 8 to the undersurface label I 0. While the staples l1 and I8 may be usedwith great facility, it will'be understood that the strap l6 may be attached by means of glue or any other suitable connecting means. The label maybe attached to the can by sliding it axially of the opening tool H with the strap l6 substantially at right angles thereto to dispose a portion of the strap I6 beneath the tool. Whenthe label [0 is centered within the flange II it may be forced downwardly into the container to cover the opening tool and to engage the flange tightly. While the label has been illustrated as circular in shape,- it will be understood that it may likewise be made square or rectangular ,to flt any desired shape of container.

Another form of label is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. This label consists of a disc 26 of sheet material such as paperior thincardboard, and hasattached to its under surface a strap 2| having an arcuate edge 22 and a straight edge 23. In this form of the invention the strap 2| is attached to the label by a narrow zone of adhesive disposed adjacent the arcuate edge 22 of the strap, thereby forming a pocket or stirrup adapted to receive the end of the opening tool I whichis shown in dotted lines, The label may also be provided with a cut-out portion 24 having transparent material 25 covering the opening in order to allow the tool to be seen. As shown in Figure 4, the strap 2| may be buckled slightly in order to facilitate introduction of the end of the tool into the pocket formed by the strap 2| and the under surface of the label.

A similar form of label is disclosed in Figures 5 and 6. This label consists of a disc of sheet material 26 having attached to its under surface a generally square piece of material 21 which forms with the label a pocket for receiving the end of a can-opening tool l4 (shown in dotted lines), The strip of material 21 may be attached to the label 26 by means of tongues 26 stamped out of the label 26 and passed through,

apertures 28 in the strip 21., The outer ends of the tongues 26 are stamped flatly into engagement with'the under surface of the strip 21 and thereby fixing the strip to the label 26. The strip 21 -over lies the apertures left by the tongues 28 and thereby produces a substantially imperforate label.

InFigure j which consists of a disc-like sheet of material 36 having a staple 3 lconnected thereto in slightly spaced relationship to its surface so as to provide a space through which the key can be insertedl In Figure 8 the key ll shown in dotted lines is received between the label 32 and a tongue 33 formedof comparatively stiff sheet material whichis connected at one end only to the under '2 is disclosed another form of labelsurface of the label 32 as by means of a staple 34. This form of label may be attached to the key I4 either by moving the label axially or transversely of the key to dispose of the tongue 33 between the key and the end of the container. This form of label, as well as the labels described above, may be provided with a scored portion defining a tongue 35 which may be pushed out of the plane of the label 32. The edge of the resulting opening can be engaged with a fingernail to remove-the label from the end of the can.

It will be understood that the labels may be formed of any desired type of material such as, for example, thin cardboard,- paper, transparent material such as Cellophane, and that the shape andproportions of label may be varied to conform to the type of container with which it is used. Likewise, the members forming the loops or strips for receiving the key'may be varied in proportions and in their disposition with relation to the label andmay be attached to the labels by any of the means disclosed above without departing from the invention. Preferably, the labels conform closely to the shape of the cover as indicated above, in order that they will protect the end of the can without preventing the containers from being stacked and packed in superposed relationship.

Because of the many variations of which the labels are susceptible, the forms of labels described above should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a label for a can having an end, a peripheral flange projecting beyond said end and an opening tool detachably connected to said end of the can; the combination with the can of a label disposed within said flange conforming to the shape of and substantially the same size as said end, and a member fixed to the undersurface of the'label and disposed at least in part between said tool and the end of the-can for retaining the label within said flange.

2. In a label for a can having an end, a peripheral flange projecting beyond said end and a tool for opening the can detachably connected to said end; the combination with the can of a label conformingto the shape of said end and in edge engagement with said flange and a member flxed at at least one end to the undersurface of the label and being disposed at least'in part beneath the opening tool to retain the label within the flange.

' 3. The label set forth in claim 2 in which the member consists of a strip of flexible material disposed substantially diametrically of said label and means connecting the ends of the strip to said label. V

4. The label set forth in claim 2 in which said member consists of a strip of flexible material and means connecting all but one edge of said strip to the undersurface of said label to form with said label a pocket for receiving a portion of said tool.

5. The label set forth in claim 2 in which the member consists of a metallic strip having a por- TRUMAN M GODFREY. 

